Demands for a Transparent Investigation in Poison Death of Yemeni Journalist

Riyadh – Yemeni journalist Mohammed Alabsi’s death has been witnessing growing interest among each of the Yemeni journalists’ union, rights groups, and family members who demand an inquiry into the mysterious death of a top investigative journalist after an autopsy showed that he was poisoned.

The toxicology report exhibited a lethal 65 percent of Carboxyhemoglobin present in the deceased system.

Alabsi, died 35, was renowned for pursuing information and tips regarding purported corruption which has always been a major issue in Yemen.

On Dec. 20, 2016 Alabsi died under mysterious circumstances — shortly after Yemen media circulated information of his work being focused on corruption involving high-profile political figures in the coup-run capital Sanaa.

Alabsi’s family and friends decided to preserve his body in a Kuwait-based hospital, putting together an investigative team to look into his death.

His sudden death prompted his family and friends to demand an autopsy, delaying his funeral for nearly three weeks. Samples were flown to Jordan for tests, which finally revealed on Sunday that al-Absi died of poisoning.

It is worth noting that the journalist’s house was raided by Iran-aligned Houthi militias last March, and has received numerous threats against his publishing of corruption files linked to the coup’s de facto capital in Sanaa.

Alabsi actively perused corruption, irrespective of how prickly and life-threatening the journey would get. He is known for starting up activist organizations and campaigns, most notably being the “National Coalition Anti-YLNG” that opposed contracts involving the liquefaction of Yemeni natural gas.

Alabsi’s career included an editor post at the state-owned daily ‘Althawra’, also former reporting for the Lebanon-based As-Safir (Arabic for Ambassador) newspaper.

In a joint statement, advocates called upon the Yemeni state prosecution to start a “transparent investigation” saying that al-Absi played an “exceptional role against corruption.”